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Monday, June 06, 2005

Ten things to remember

This is something I wrote nearly ten years ago. You can tell that I had been reading a lot of self-help literature! I'd use more traditional Christian language these days, but I think it stands up OK:

THINGS TO REMEMBER

1. You are acceptable as you are. You do not have to be perfect to be acceptable. You are not a bad person. God does not make junk.

2. You are allowed to feel angry, and to express your anger in a direct and positive fashion. Real friends will not turn on you for showing your feelings.

3. You are allowed to take risks and make mistakes, for this is how you learn. If you don’t learn you cannot grow and develop. The world will not come to an end if you cock up. You also have the right to be forgiven for your mistakes.

4. You are not responsible for everyone else’s happiness. You do not have to put everything right, and if someone is making mistakes remember: they too have the right to live their life and learn. They too have the right to be forgiven by you.

5. You are allowed to say `No’ to things that you don’t desire, even if that means disappointing those you care about.

6. You are allowed to ask for help. Admitting weaknesses is accepting your humanity. It also requires more strength than covering up your fears and pain.

7. You are entitled to respect, as all people are. Remember to respect yourself though - people have a habit of accepting self-assessments, even if these are wildly off the mark. If you don’t show yourself respect, no one else will either.

8. You have the right to show your affection for people, men as well as women. Wanting to hug a male friend does not mean that you are gay. Physical contact is a good thing, a part of being human.

9. You are not responsible for making the world a perfect place. The world has already been saved once, and God is in a much better position to sort things out than you are.

10. You are a child of God. You are here for a purpose. Trust that God will reveal it to you when he is good and ready.